Differential Flo8p‐dependent regulation of FLO1 and FLO11 for cell–cell and cell–substrate adherence of S. cerevisiae S288c

Abstract

Cell–cell and cell–surface adherence represents initial steps in forming multicellular aggregates or in establishing cell–surface interactions. The commonly used Saccharomyces cerevisiae laboratory strain S288c carries a flo8 mutation, and is only able to express the flocculin-encoding genes FLO1 and FLO11, when FLO8 is restored. We show here that the two flocculin genes exhibit differences in regulation to execute distinct functions under various environmental conditions. In contrast to the laboratory strain Σ1278b, haploids of the S288c genetic background require FLO1 for cell–cell and cell–substrate adhesion, whereas FLO11 is required for pseudohyphae formation of diploids. In contrast to FLO11, FLO1 repression requires the Sin4p mediator tail component, but is independent of the repressor Sfl1p. FLO1 regulation also differs from FLO11, because it requires neither the KSS1 MAP kinase cascade nor the pathways which lead to the transcription factors Gcn4p or Msn1p. The protein kinase A pathway and the transcription factors Flo8p and Mss11p are the major regulators for FLO1 expression. Therefore, S. cerevisiae is prepared to simultaneously express two genes of its otherwise silenced FLO reservoir resulting in an appropriate cellular surface for different environments.

Gene expression associated with vegetative incompatibility in Amylostereum areolatum

“…Cell-cell adhesion and recognition in A. areolatum further appear to be lectin-mediated, because the two glycoprotein-encoding ESTs identified in this study encode a putative mucin and a mannoprotein. By functioning as lectins, these proteins are thought to facilitate cell-cell adhesion by binding to cell surface carbohydrates in fungi (Fukazawa and Kagaya, 1997;Fichtner et al, 2007;Douglas et al, 2007). The fact that transcripts for both these proteins were up-regulated during vegetative compatibility and incompatibility relative to non-interacting mycelia, supports the notion that similar molecular mechanisms underlie hyphal fusion during these interactions.…”

Fine-Tuning of Histone H3 Lys4 Methylation During Pseudohyphal Differentiation by the CDK Submodule of RNA Polymerase II

“…Our data show that ssn8Djhd2D mutants can induce pseudohyphal growth independently of FLO11, but this induction requires the FLO8, MSS11, and MFG1 activators. Both FLO8 and MSS11 are also required for FLO1 transcription (Fichtner et al 2007), making it likely that ssn8Djhd2D mutants are upregulating this FLO gene family member as well. It is also possible that deleting SSN8 and thereby eliminating Ssn3p kinase activity has broad impacts on many pseudohyphal regulators.…”

The Influence of Microgravity on Invasive Growth inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

“…Depending on the yeast strain, these adhesins may fulfill different roles in these morphogenic events (Guo et al, 2000). Yeast strains were observed in which Flo11p was involved in flocculation or Flo1p in a strong adhesion to surfaces (Reynolds and Fink, 2001;Bayly et al, 2005;Douglas et al, 2007;Fichtner et al, 2007;Van Mulders et al, 2009).…”